Church district Weikersheim
| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Regional Church : | Evangelical Church in Württemberg |
| Prelature : | Heilbronn |
| Area : | 452 km² |
| Structure: | 36 parishes |
| Parishioners: | approx. 19,332 (December 31, 2009) |
| Address of the Dean's Office : |
Bahnhofstrasse 19 97990 Weikersheim |
| Dean : | Renate Meixner |
| map | |
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The Evangelical Church District Weikersheim (also Evangelisches Dekanat Weikersheim ) is one of 44 church districts or deaneries of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg . Its area is congruent with the Catholic deanery Mergentheim .
geography
The church district Weikersheim is located in the extreme north of the Württemberg regional church. Its area includes the south of the Main-Tauber district , i.e. the area of the political cities and communities Bad Mergentheim (excluding the districts of Dainbach and Rengershausen), Creglingen , Igersheim , Niederstetten and Weikersheim .
Neighboring church districts
The church district Weikersheim borders in the south on the church districts Blaufelden and Künzelsau . In the west and north it borders on the Evangelical Church in Baden and in the east on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria .
history
Before 1803, the area of today's deanery or church district Weikersheim belonged mainly to the historical Hohenlohe landscape , which was partly divided into several lines, also to the imperial city of Rothenburg and to the Teutonic Order. The Reformation was introduced by 1556 in almost all of today's area of the Weikersheim deanery, except in the areas of the Teutonic Order . In the area is the former residence of Hohenlohe Weikersheim, which became the seat of a superintendent. The General Consistory for Hohenlohe was in Öhringen . After the transition to Württemberg, Weikersheim became the seat of a Württemberg dean's office in 1807. The associated senior office was set up in Bad Mergentheim. Creglingen also became the seat of a deanery after the transfer to Württemberg in 1810. In 1817 both deaneries were merged, with the seat then being in Creglingen until 1826, before Weikersheim became the seat of the deanery.
The deaneries Weikersheim and Creglingen initially belonged to the Generalate Schwäbisch Hall , after its dissolution in 1913 the deanery Weikersheim became the Generalate Heilbronn, from which the present Prelature Heilbronn emerged in 1924 .
As a result of the dissolution of some districts or higher offices in Württemberg in 1939, the church administrative districts were also partially restructured. With effect from April 1, 1939, the parishes of Niederstetten, Sichertshausen, Oberstetten and Wildentierbach were reclassified from the Blaufelden parish to the Weikersheim parish.
Head of the church district
The church district is managed by the district synod , the church district committee (KBA) and the dean. Renate Meixner (* 1963), who is also one of the pastors in Weikersheim , has been the dean since September 1, 2012 .
Deans of the church district Weikersheim since 1807
still sketchy
- 1807–1810 Wilhelm Bernhard Philipp Bauer; Pastor in Weikersheim since 1789
- 1810–1817 Karl August Wilhelm Pröhl
- 1817–1849 Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Meister
- 1850–1873 Christoph Friedrich Karl Mayer
- 1873–1898 Johann Georg Wilhelm Köhn
- 1898–1916 Dr. Georg Gottlob Blind
- 1916–1926 Dr. Adolf Dörrfuß (1875–1948)
- 1926–1933 Dr. Gustav Hahn
- 1933–1939 Friedrich Keppler
- 1939–1962 Eberhard Aichelin
- 1963–1971 Heinrich Gerber
- 1971–1984 Johannes Pfleiderer (1922–1994)
- 1984–1995 Marianne Koch (1930–2020)
- 1995–2006 Ulrich Bernecker (* 1941)
- 2007–2012 Reinhard Tröster (* 1947)
- since 2012 Renate Meixner (* 1963)
Deans of the Creglingen deanery until it was merged with Weikersheim in 1826:
- 1811–1812 Georg Christoph Friedrich Böckh; Pastor in Creglingen since 1805
- 1812–1822 Georg Christoph Finkh
- 1823–1826 Johann Ludwig Ziegler
Parishes
There are a total of 36 parishes in the church district of Weikersheim. Four of these parishes have merged to form a total of two total parishes, but remain independent corporations under public law. The parish numbers given in brackets after the name of the parish relate to the year 2011 and have been rounded.
The area of the church district mainly belonged to the historical Hohenlohe landscape and the margraviate of Ansbach as well as the area of the Teutonic Order. The first two sovereigns named introduced the Reformation early on. Therefore, the area is predominantly evangelical. Only the former Teutonic town Bad Mergentheim and its surrounding area are Catholic. There is therefore a Protestant parish and mostly an old church in almost every village. In most places Catholics did not move in until after the Second World War. Conversely, Protestants also moved to the Catholic towns after the Second World War.
Parish of Adolzhausen
The parish of Adolzhausen (approx. 184) comprises the Adolzhausen district of the city of Niederstetten. In terms of church, Adolzhausen initially belonged to Hollenbach. But there was a chapel of St. Oswald, which was elevated to a parish church in 1453. Herbsthausen and Schönbühl (until 1650) also belonged to the parish. Originally, the patronage of the church belonged to the Teutonic Order. Hohenlohe introduced the Reformation. The current church still has a Romanesque choir tower, the late Gothic nave was extended to the west in 1760 and renewed in 1879. The Adolzhausen parish still looks after the Herbsthausen parish to this day.
Althausen parish
The parish Althausen (approx. 362) comprises the Althausen district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. Althausen already owned a church branch of Neunkirchen in the 14th century . However, there was a chapel dedicated to St. Jodokus as early as 1352 and 1418. An early measurement pledge was donated to her in 1352. The patronage of the church came through the Merten von Mergentheim in 1551 to the Geyer von Giebelstadt , who introduced the Reformation despite resistance from the Teutonic Order. Today's church was rebuilt in 1778/79 in place of the previous chapel. The classical church with the east tower still has a late Gothic winged altar. The parish of Althausen is still looked after by the Neunkirchen parish to this day.
Archshofen parish
The parish of Archshofen (approx. 250) comprises the Archshofen district of the city of Creglingen. In church terms, Archshofen initially belonged to Freudenbach . In 1341 the chapel of St. Aegidien was elevated to a parish church. After the Reformation, the place belonged to the parish Creglingen, but then became independent again. Today's church is a choir tower with a Gothic-early Baroque nave. Today the parish of Archshofen is again looked after by the parish of Freudenbach.
Parish Bad Mergentheim
The parish of Bad Mergentheim (approx. 4,400) comprises the core town of Bad Mergentheim and the Löffelstelzen district of Bad Mergentheim. Bad Mergentheim and Löffelstelzen were always Catholic as possessions of the Teutonic Order. The Reformation could not gain a foothold. The Lutheran creed was only briefly introduced during the Swedish period in the 30 Years War. Only after the transition to Württemberg was a Protestant congregation founded at the beginning of the 19th century, which in 1815 was awarded the castle church as a place of worship. The community received its own pastor from 1825. Bad Mergentheim was the seat of the Württemberg Oberamt at the time, but the church administration, the Dean's Office, was located in Weikersheim. Until 1993 the parish was only called "Mergentheim". With effect from December 31, 1993 it was renamed "Kirchengemeinde Bad Mergentheim". Today two pastors are active in the parish of Bad Mergentheim.
Probably the best-known member of the community was Eduard Mörike , who came to Bad Mergentheim after his retirement in 1844 and married the officer's daughter Margarethe Speeth here in the castle church in 1851. In 1855 he moved from here to Stuttgart.
Until 1989 the Protestants of the parish of Igersheim also belonged to the parish of Mergentheim before their own parish was established there.
Parish Creglingen
The parish of Creglingen (approx. 1,332) comprises the core town of Creglingen and the Craintal district as well as the Schirmbach hamlet of the town of Creglingen, which is part of the Reinsbronn district . A church is first mentioned in Creglingen in 1257. In 1343 it is mentioned as the church of Maria Magdalena, Peter and Paulus. It was incorporated into the Würzburg monastery. From 1311 it was disputed between Würzburg and Hohenlohe-Brauneck, then finally came to the Margraviate of Ansbach in 1433 via the heirs of Brauneck. From there the Reformation was introduced. The church was probably built in the 13th century and changed through renovations from 1508 and 1725 to 1727. The single-nave church with Romanesque and late Gothic elements has a choir tower with a ribbed vault. In addition to the parish church, the parish of Creglingen also includes the Herrgottskirche , a former pilgrimage church that was consecrated in 1389. The late Gothic building has a wooden barrel vault. The furnishings are known nationwide, especially through the Marien altar by Tilman Riemenschneider from the 15th century. Next to the altar there are choir stalls from the 15th century, the high altar and two side altars as well as grave slabs from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Craintal has always belonged to Creglingen. There is no church in Craintal. The Creglingen parish also looks after the Standorf parish.
Parish of Edelfingen
The Edelfingen parish (approx. 670) includes the Edelfingen district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. A dean is attested in Edelfingen as early as 1222. The church set belonged to Hohenlohe, who introduced the Reformation together with the Lords of Rosenberg. As a result of the collapse of the tower of the old church, the current church was built in 1872 in place of the previous building.
General parish of Elpersheim-Markelsheim
The Elpersheim-Markelsheim parish (approx. 890) comprises the Elpersheim district of the city of Weikersheim and the Markelsheim district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. The total parish of Elpersheim-Markelsheim was formed on November 11, 2001. At that time, Markelsheim was separated from the previous parish of Elpersheim and at the same time a new parish was formed from the two parishes.
Parish of Elpersheim
The Elpersheim parish (approx. 350 (2005)) comprises the Elpersheim district of the city of Weikersheim. The St. George's Church is probably an old parish church, but is only documented in 1341. The patronage rights lay with the local authorities . The choir tower complex with a cross-rib vaulted choir and a late Gothic storey has a neo-Gothic nave. The community also has a community hall and runs a kindergarten. The Elpersheim rectory also looks after the Markelsheim parish.
Parish of Markelsheim
The parish of Markelsheim (approx. 580 (2005)) includes the Markelsheim district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. The place remained Catholic as the possession of the Teutonic Order after the Reformation. Only after the Second World War did Protestants move in. They initially belonged to the Elpersheim parish, but have formed their own parish since November 11, 2001, which is still looked after by the Elpersheim parish. The young parish of Markelsheim does not own a church. Services are celebrated about once a month.
Finsterlohr parish
The parish of Finsterlohr (approx. 389) comprises the Finsterlohr district with the associated hamlets of Burgstall and Schonach as well as Wolfsbuch and the hamlet of Creglingen belonging to the Blumweiler district . Ecclesiastically, Finsterlohr belonged to Burgstall, then to Leuzenbronn , before the place got its own pastor in 1352. The imperial city of Rothenburg introduced the Reformation. The church in a castle-like location with the remains of a former fortification has a ribbed Romanesque tower choir and a flat-roofed nave. In the associated castle stable there was a Margaret Church, which was probably a parish church, but then disappeared. Since then the place belongs to the parish Finsterlohr.
The Finsterlohr parish also looks after the parishes of Lichtel and Schmerbach.
Frauental parish
The parish of Frauental (approx. 115) includes the Frauental district of the city of Creglingen. A pastor in Frauental is mentioned for the first time in 1276. After the Reformation, Frauental belonged to Equarhofen near Uffenheim. In 1810 it was assigned to the Freudenbach parish, to which the Frauental parish still belongs to this day. However, the parish has an old early Gothic church with a single-nave, flat-roofed nave and a slim choir, the former monastery church. In 1879 a transept was demolished. In the north of the church is the former monastery complex with buildings from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Parish Freudenbach
The parish Freudenbach (approx. 238) comprises the Freudenbach district including the associated residential area Schön in the city of Creglingen. A church in Freudenbach was assigned to Gollachgau Count Audulf as early as 807. Via the Strezzen, the church came to Hohenlohe in 1299, then to the Haug Abbey near Würzburg. In the 14th century the place became Ansbach. From there the Reformation was introduced. Today's St. Blasius Church was built by Gustav Vorherr in 1796. The late Romanesque base of the east tower of the previous church was adopted. The Freudenbach parish also looks after the parishes of Frauental and Archshofen.
Parish of Herbsthausen
The parish of Herbsthausen (approx. 130) comprises the Herbsthausen district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. In terms of church, Herbsthausen was initially a branch of Hollenbach . In 1453 the place was assigned to the newly established Adolzhausen parish. A chapel dedicated to St. John the Evangelist is mentioned as early as 1453. It is the nucleus of today's choir tower church, which was changed or renovated in 1619, 1703 and from 1873 onwards. The parish of Herbsthausen is looked after by the Adolzhausen parish until today.
Igersheim parish
The parish of Igersheim (approx. 1,494) includes the parish of Igersheim . The community of Igersheim and its districts belonged mainly to the Neuhaus Office of the Teutonic Order until 1803. They therefore remained Catholic after the Reformation. Most of the time after the Second World War, Protestants also moved to Igersheim and the districts of Bernsfelden, Harthausen, Neuses and Simmringen. They were initially assigned to the Protestant parishes of Bad Mergentheim, Nassau and Schäftersheim. In 1973 a parish hall was built in Igersheim. With effect from November 12, 1989, the independent parish of Igersheim was founded from all areas that belong to the political community of Igersheim. In 1996 the community was finally able to build its current community center.
Parish of Lichtel
The parish of Lichtel (approx. 250) includes the districts of Lichtel and Oberrimbach and the Aussiedlerhöfe Landturm and Birkhöfe of the city of Creglingen as well as the Wolkersfelden residential area in the Niederstetten district of Wildentierbach. A church is mentioned for the first time in 1342. It was probably dedicated to St. Nicholas. Via the Hohenlohe-Brauneck it came to the Teutonic Order and in 1349 to the Hochstift Würzburg. In 1399 it finally came under the control of Rothenburg. From there the Reformation was introduced. The early Gothic church with the east tower was renovated in 1817 and 1860. The church was always responsible for Oberrimbach as there is no church there. The parish of Lichtel was temporarily looked after by the Schmerbach parish, today by the Finsterlohr parish.
Parish of Münster
The parish of Münster (approx. 211) comprises the Münster district of the city of Creglingen. The church in Münster was possibly the mother church of Creglingen. Hohenlohe had the patronage as a Würzburg fiefdom. In 1541 the All Saints Church became a Protestant parish church. It is a late Romanesque choir tower church with a Gothic vaulted tower. The choir is vaulted with ribs. Inside a Romanesque triumphal arch, a Renaissance pulpit and a late Baroque altar. The parish of Münster was temporarily looked after by the parish office II in Creglingen. Today the Münster parish also looks after the neighboring parish of Niederrimbach.
Nassau parish
The parish Nassau (approx. 213) comprises the Nassau district of the city of Weikersheim. Ecclesiastically the place belonged to Weikersheim. A pastor is named as early as 1293. From 1544 the church is called St. Bartholomew's Church. It is a choir tower church with a late Romanesque tower. Inside there are wall paintings around 1300. The ship was redesigned several times, the last time in 1894. Today the parish of Nassau is looked after by the Schäftersheim parish.
Parish of Neubronn
The parish of Neubronn (approx. 340) comprises the districts of Laudenbach and Neubronn (excluding Oberndorf) of the city of Weikersheim. There is evidence of a parish church in Neubronn as early as 1251. It was incorporated into Neumünster Abbey. The Lords of Rosenberg introduced the Reformation. From the former late Romanesque choir tower church only the tower and a decoration on the portal are preserved. The hamlet of Oberndorf, which belongs to Neubronn, was also part of the Neubronn parish until 2001. With effect from November 11, 2001, Oberndorf was incorporated into the neighboring parish of Standorf.
Laudenbach was reformed from Finsterlohr, but the Reformation was reversed by Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. Therefore Laudenbach is predominantly Catholic. Protestants only moved to Laudenbach after the Second World War. These were assigned to the parish of Neubronn, which is now looked after by the Weikersheim parish.
Parish of Neunkirchen
The parish of Neunkirchen (approx. 385) comprises the Neunkirchen district of the city of Bad Mergentheim. A parish was mentioned in Neunkirchen as early as 1272. In 1470 the church was given to the Teutonic Order. Nevertheless, the Geyer introduced the Reformation. The current church was built in the neo-Romanesque style in 1822/23. The Neunkirchen parish also looks after the Althausen parish to this day.
Parish Niederrimbach
The parish Niederrimbach (approx. 120) comprises the Niederrimbach district of the city of Creglingen. In church terms, Niederrimbach was initially a branch of Creglingen. Niederrimbach has been its own parish since the Reformation. From 1602 it belonged to Brandenburg-Ansbach. The originally Romanesque church was renovated and heavily modified in 14734. The base of the choir tower is still Romanesque, in some cases the basement as well. Today the parish of Niederrimbach is looked after by the Münster parish.
General parish Niederstetten
The parish Niederstetten (approx. 1,570) includes the core town of Niederstetten with the associated hamlets. It was formed by the announcement of the Oberkirchenrat on April 13, 1933, when the parish Sichertshausen was separated from the then parish Ettenhausen (parish Künzelsau) and assigned to the parish Niederstetten.
Parish Niederstetten
The parish Niederstetten (approx. 1523) includes the core town of Niederstetten and some associated hamlets. The Church of St. Jakob is very old and has had parish rights for a long time. Laudenbach and Wermutshausen also originally belonged to the parish . After the Reformation, the right of patronage came to the respective rulers via the Neumünster Abbey near Würzburg, including the Lords of Rosenberg and the Counts of Hatzfeld. The Romanesque church has a structured hall. The choir was expanded in 1788. Inside, a late Gothic winged altar and tombs of the Lords of Rosenberg can be seen. The Niederstetten parish also looks after the parish of Sichertshausen, which was separated from the then total parish of Ettenhausen (Künzelsau parish) and assigned to the parish of Niederstetten, with which the general parish of Niederstetten has been formed since then. With effect from April 1, 1939, the entire parish of Niederstetten with its two parishes was reclassified into the parish of Weikersheim.
Parish of Sichertshausen
The parish of Sichertshausen (approx. 38) includes the hamlet of Sichertshausen in the core town of Niederstetten. Ecclesiastically, Sichertshausen first belonged to Billingsbach, later to Ettenhausen (Künzelsau church district), with which it finally formed the entire parish of Ettenhausen. By the announcement of the upper church council on April 13, 1933, the parish of Sichertshausen was separated from the total parish of Ettenhausen and assigned to the parish of Niederstetten (at that time still the church district of Blaufelden), with which it then formed the total parish of Niederstetten. In a letter dated April 10, 1933, the Ministry of Culture recognized the new Niederstetten parish as a corporation under public law. With effect from April 1, 1939, the parish of Sichertshausen was reclassified together with that of its mother parish in Niederstetten to the parish of Weikersheim.
The Gothic chapel of St. Veith in Sichertshausen has a choir tower from the 13th century and a half-timbered upper floor.
Parish of Oberstetten
The parish of Oberstetten (approx. 350) comprises the Oberstetten district of the city of Niederstetten. A church of St. Boniface is mentioned in Oberstetten as early as the 9th century. It probably belonged to the diocese of Fulda and was the mother church of Niederstetten and the entire surrounding area. Later it came to Hohenlohe, who introduced the Reformation. In 1605 it came to the imperial city of Rothenburg. The choir tower church has a Romanesque barrel-vaulted choir and a half-timbered upper floor also a late Gothic nave.
Until 1939 the parish of Oberstetten belonged to the church district of Blaufelden. With effect from April 1, 1939, it was reclassified to the church district Weikersheim.
Parish of Pfitzingen
The parish of Pfitzingen (approx. 239) comprises the districts Herrenzimmern and Pfitzingen of the city of Niederstetten and the district of Haagen of the city of Weikersheim. There is evidence of a parish in Pfitzingen as early as 1292. The parish also included gentlemen's rooms where there was no church and, since the Reformation, also Rüsselhausen (see own parish). The tower from the 13th century is still preserved from the Pfitzinger Church, today known as the Trinity Church. The rest of the building was built in 1857 in neo-Romanesque style. Today the Pfitzingen parish is looked after by the Vorbachzimmer parish.
Haagen was a church branch of Laudenbach, in which Finsterlohr introduced the Reformation. Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn reversed this, so that the place is predominantly Catholic today. Most of the residents who moved here after the Second World War were assigned to the Pfitzingen parish.
Reinsbronn parish
The parish of Reinsbronn (approx. 226) includes the district of Reinsbronn with the associated hamlets of Altmühle , Brauneck and Niedersteinach in the town of Creglingen. In 1369 Konrad and Götz von Reinsbronn and their cousin Fritz von Reinsbronn built a chapel in Reinsbronn. After the Reformation, it was expanded into a small church by Philipp Geyer von Giebelstadt in 1593 and expanded again in 1618. As this church became too small, the building decision for today's church was made in 1843. It could then be built in 1852 in the neo-Romanesque style. In 1858 she received her organ from Aug. Laukhuff . In 1927 the interior of the church was renovated and in 1945 the church was affected by the war. In 1980 the tower was renovated. The exterior renovation took place in 1992.
Rinderfeld parish
The parish of Rinderfeld (approx. 213) includes the district of Rinderfeld of the city of Niederstetten with the subsidiary communities of Dunzendorf and Streichental . A parish is attested in 1360. The right of patronage lay with the local authorities (Hohenlohe, later Rosenberg, Hatzfeld), who introduced the Reformation. The current church of St. Michael is a Romanesque choir tower. Today the parish of Rinderfeld is looked after by the Wildentierbach parish.
Parish of Rüsselhausen
The parish of Rüsselhausen (approx. 105) includes the Rüsselhausen district of the city of Niederstetten. In 1313 a chapel is mentioned in Rüsselhausen, which probably belonged to Markelsheim. In the 14th century it became its own parish church. The respective local government had the right of patronage. The church has belonged to Pfitzingen since the Reformation. Today the parish of Rüsselhausen is looked after by the Vorbachzimmer parish.
Parish of Schäftersheim
The Schäftersheim parish (approx. 680) includes the Schäftersheim district of the city of Weikersheim. Ecclesiastically, the place initially belonged to Weikersheim. But there was already a branch church of St. Nicholas, which was probably a Comburg foundation and in 1403 became its own parish church. Hohenlohe introduced the Reformation. The Romanesque choir tower church has a Gothic nave. The Schäftersheim parish also looks after the Nassau parish.
Parish of Schmerbach
The parish of Schmerbach (approx. 204) comprises the districts of Blumweiler (excluding Wolfsbuch and Weiler, which belong to the parish of Finsterlohr) and Schmerbach of the city of Creglingen. The old church in Schmerbach belonged to the power of Gattenhofen, who gave it to the Rothenburg convent. The imperial city of Rothenburg had been owned by the church since the 16th century. At that time it was provided by the Lichtel parish office. However, today's Johanneskirche dates back to 1872.
Blumweiler belonged to the area of the Free Imperial City of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and was initially looked after by the parish of Leuzenbronn. Today the place belongs to the parish Schmerbach, which is looked after by the Finsterlohr parish. There is no church in Blumweiler.
Parish of Sechselbach
The parish of Sechselbach (approx. 58) includes the district of Sechselbach in the city of Creglingen. A church of St. Stephan is mentioned for the first time as early as 1136. It was a subsidiary of Aub until the Reformation. Then she came to the parish of Waldmannshofen. The current church was rebuilt from 1818 to 1820 as a classicistic choir tower church and renovated after a fire in 1949. The parish of Sechselbach is looked after by the Waldmannshofen parish until today.
Parish of Standorf
The parish Standorf (approx. 80) comprises the residential area Standorf in the Niederrimbach district of the city of Creglingen and the hamlet of Oberndorf in the Neubronn district of the city of Weikersheim.
The small town of Standorf came to Weinsberg via the Lords of Hohenlohe and from there to Brandenburg-Ansbach in the 15th century. The former pilgrimage church of Ortisei was probably built in the 12th or 13th century. It has an octagon with a choir. After the Reformation, Standorf became a branch of Creglingen. The parish of Standorf is looked after by the local parish office to this day.
With effect from November 11, 2001, the hamlet of Oberndorf, which was part of the Neubronn district of the city of Weikersheim and which had previously been part of the Neubronn parish, was incorporated into the Standorf parish.
Parish of Vorbachzimmer
The parish Vorbachzimmer (approx. 675) comprises the Vorbachzimmer district (approx. 330) of the city of Niederstetten. Originally the place belonged to Niederstetten ecclesiastically. After the Reformation, Finsterlohr established its own parish, which belonged to Hohenlohe. The Gothic Marienkapelle with east tower was extended and redesigned in 1778. In 1967 today's St. Nicholas Church received a new ship. Today the Vorbachzimmer parish also looks after the parishes of Pfitzingen (approx. 240) and Rüsselhausen (approx. 105).
Wachbach parish
The parish of Wachbach (approx. 700) comprises the districts of Apfelbach , Hachtel , Rot with Dörtel , Stuppach and Wachbach of the city of Bad Mergentheim. A church in Wachbach is mentioned as early as the 11th century when it came from the king to the duke of Bavaria. Later it belonged to the empire of Mergentheim and the House of Hohenlohe. During the Reformation, the place belonged to the lords of Adelsheim, who introduced Lutheranism. Nevertheless, there were still Catholic residents who were subject to the Teutonic Order. The Protestant parish church of Wachbach is a Romanesque choir tower with a ribbed choir.
Apfelbach, Rot and Stuppach remained Catholic after the Reformation because they belonged to the Teutonic Order. Protestants only moved to these places after the Second World War. These were then assigned to the Protestant parish of Wachbach. Hachtel always belonged to Wachbach and has no Protestant church of its own.
Waldmannshofen parish
The parish of Waldmannshofen (approx. 160) includes the Waldmannshofen district (without Sechselbach) in the town of Creglingen. Ecclesiastically, the place was initially a branch of Lipprichhausen before it became its own parish in 1327. The church belonged to the respective local rule. The current church was rebuilt in 1780. The early Gothic east tower was retained. The Waldmannshofen parish also looks after the parish of Sechselbach.
Weikersheim parish
The parish of Weikersheim (around 1980) comprises the core town of Weikersheim and the districts of Honsbronn and Queckbronn . A pastor was first mentioned in 1219. The church of St. Georg was under the Neumünster monastery. Honsbronn and Schäftersheim also belonged to the district until the latter became its own parish in 1403. The current town church was rebuilt between 1419 and 1425. The town church is a late Gothic hall church with a west tower and choir side towers with a baroque crown. The "Weikersheimer Prinzle", a children's epitaph, is significant in terms of art history. After the transition from Hohenlohe to Württemberg, Weikersheim became the seat of a deanery. Queckbronn has also been part of Weikersheim's church since at least the 17th century. There is no church in Queckbronn.
Wermutshausen parish
The parish of Wermutshausen (approx. 143) comprises the districts of Wermutshausen and Ebertsbronn of the city of Niederstetten. Ecclesiastically, Wermutshausen initially belonged to Niederstetten. In 1454 the place received its own parish, which was probably reformed by Rosenberg. Today's Petruskirche was built in 1805/10 in place of an older church. The parish of Wertmutshausen is now looked after by the Wildentierbach rectory.
Church community Wildentierbach
The parish Wildentierbach (approx. 243) comprises the districts Wildentierbach , Hachtel and Heimberg of the city of Niederstetten. The church probably emerged from the parish of Oberstetten. The imperial city of Rothenburg introduced the Reformation. After that the place belonged ecclesiastically to Krailshausen, Kreuzfeld and Reupoltsrot. The originally Romanesque St. Mary's Church (fortified church with gate tower) was redesigned in 1682 and 1717. The furnishings are late baroque. The Wildentierbach rectory also looks after the parishes of Wermutshausen and Rinderfeld.
Until 1939 the parish Wildentierbach belonged to the church district Blaufelden. With effect from April 1, 1939, it was reclassified to the church district Weikersheim.
literature
- The Evangelical Württemberg - Its church offices and clergy from the Reformation to the present, collected and edited by Christian Sigel, pastor in Gebersheim, 1910
- The state of Baden-Wuerttemberg - official description according to districts and municipalities (in eight volumes); Edited by the Baden-Württemberg State Archives Department; Volume IV: Stuttgart District - Regional Associations Franconia and East Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart, 1980, ISBN 3-17-005708-1 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Biographical overview on his 80th birthday ( memento of the original from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Historical personalities on the homepage of the city of Bad Mergentheim
Web links
Coordinates: 49 ° 29 ' N , 9 ° 54' E